Kari Thomsen-Easy Domes Dome House

At Design Interviews

(Excerpt) Interview with Kari Thomsen : Frank Scott: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?. Kari Thomsen : The main principles behind the Easy Domes design is the geodesic structure carried out from the basic of the regular polyhedra the Icosahedron where the vertices are cut off and the holes closed as faces in the new polyhedron. The new solid becomes a pure plate system which is stable and therefor useable as load and construction of a climate membrane.
At the architectural study in Copenhagen in the 70ties the geodesics had a renaissance from works of Richard Buckminster Fuller, even no real full scale project was made. Inspired by the ”buckeyballs” the idea and development of the first world wide full scale dome occur by request from the Society of Greenland People on Faroe Islands. A reasonable sized cultural house, with good interior and built for Greenland people in middle of traditional family houses, could not be the traditional ”buckeyball”. A too strange, almost alien house, set the challenge to simplify the idea though reaching the expression of the ”igloo” - the Eskimo house.
Further developments especial minimizing the load demands led to small full scale domes built in mountain terrain and ruff climate. Tests had to be made for some years, the building technique experience and knowledge was gathered to a success for later industrial production at a highly sophisticated and modern factory in Denmark. .Frank Scott: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?. Kari Thomsen : The focus was from beginning the simplification of the fully ball-shaped geodesic dome. Benefits were reached as the plate structure had no demands for special steel connectors which are common at the lattice building technique. .Frank Scott: What are your future plans for this award winning design?. Kari Thomsen : The plans are to offer sustainable and pre-produced building sections for anybody – private, company or institution – who wants a high quality house.
Marketing works are ongoing and a lot of interest is established from all around the world. A part of the future plan is to have contact and establish a local production in countries where many people might not have the big opportunities to have a good and strong house capable of standing against hurricanes and earthquakes. In short terms to make it possible for low income groups in third countries to build their own house based on the very strong wooden dome construction. No special connectors, simple tools, easy to repair and offering a broad range of possibilities for outside coverage from local nature materials. .Frank Scott: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?. Kari Thomsen : The first full scale dome was quite a challenge, especial the calculation for strength of the construction to fulfill climate and wind speed forces. In cooperation with my building engineer, ass.prof. at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Architectural Department, Copenhagen, Mr. Ole Vanggaard, the design and construction development was worked out for approximate 1 year. .Frank Scott: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?. Kari Thomsen : The concept was developed as a result of the commissioned project by the Society of Greenland People on Faroe Islands. .Frank Scott: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?. Kari Thomsen : The design is offered as a building kit in different sizes and to individual wishes from customers. Cooperation and agreement is made with the danish factory Taasinge Trae to produce the wooden plate sections, and my company makes the marketing work. .Frank Scott: Who is the target customer for his design?. Kari Thomsen : Interested customers to this special design and solution for cost effective housing are people with low income, people who l.[ End of Excerpt: Read complete interview with Kari Thomsen on Easy Domes Dome House at design-interviews.com ]